Paterson middle school students are being credited for a clear, hard-hitting warning to their peers after winning the statewide Middle School PSA Challenge from the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
A team of eighth-graders from Martin Luther King Jr. School, PS #30, produced a 30-second video that lays out the dangers of vaping and the potential exposure to harmful metals and drugs. The student producers — Ezekiel Burgos, Shaila Galon, Genesis Gonzalez, Morgan Henry, and Arelia Henry — worked under the guidance of teacher Alvin Bush.
What the winning PSA says
The video uses a peer-to-peer approach to reach middle-school viewers, emphasizing addiction risks and the possibility that vaping devices can contain metals such as nickel, tin and lead, as well as nicotine and fentanyl. The students’ central line — presented directly to the camera — asks their classmates to weigh the choice: "Your life is worth more than vaping. So, there’s one question that remains. Is it worth it?"
"These students took an issue affecting so many young people and turned it into a message that is honest, urgent and deeply meaningful," said Angelo Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
The contest invites New Jersey students in grades 5 through 8 to script and submit 30-second public service announcements about substance misuse. Organizers say the format highlights the power of youth voices in prevention efforts.
Local impact and recognition
For Paterson residents, the win spotlights a local school actively engaging students in public health messaging. The project gives PS #30 students a platform to influence classmates across the state and raises awareness about vaping and the growing concern over fentanyl contamination.
- Who: Ezekiel Burgos, Shaila Galon, Genesis Gonzalez, Morgan Henry, Arelia Henry (eighth grade)
- Guidance: Teacher Alvin Bush
- Award: Winner, Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Middle School PSA Challenge
| School | Grade | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr. School (PS #30) | 8 | 30-second PSA on vaping and substance risks |
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey commended the students' video for its clarity and emotional urgency. Officials said entries like the Paterson team's can change attitudes among young people by speaking in a relatable voice.
School leaders in Paterson did not immediately provide additional comment to News Block, but the recognition adds to a growing number of student-led prevention efforts statewide.
The student's victory demonstrates how local schools and teachers can shape public-health conversations at an early age, using short-form media to reach classmates and the broader community.
